Writing-guide.



No. 822,192. PAT-EDITED -MAY'2'9'"'I906. 7

J. O. DANA.

WRITING GUIDE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1906.

Swue/wtox Jaye 271 @Dama UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WRITING-GUIDE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1906.

Application filed June 21,1905. Serial No. 266,338.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH O. DANA, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Modesto, in the county of Stanislaus and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Writing-Guides, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to educational appliances, and especially to a writing-guide designed for use by blind persons, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character by which the writing implement will be guided throughout the lines during the writing operation, one wherein the lines of writing will be properly and accurately spaced, and one in which the operator will be properly guided in the commencement of each new line of wrltmg.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character into which the paper may be readily introduced, one where in the paper will be maintained firmly and smoothly upon the platen during the writing operation, and one in which the line-indicator will move freely for indicating line-spaces and will be securely fixed against movement during the writing of each line.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a .detail view of the line-indicator.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a fiat bed or platen composed of sheet metal or other suitable material and having verticallyupstanding longitudinal edge flanges 2, there being attached to or otherwise provided on the left-hand flange 2 a longitudinally-extending guide member or rod 3 having arranged thereon for movement in a direction longitudinally of the platen a pivoted line-indicating member or finger 4, adapted to swing toward and from the platen and provided at its free end with a downturned engaging portion or top 5 for a purpose which will presently appear. Disposed to overlie the platen and pivoted at the right-hand edge thereof, as at 6, is an open rectangular frame 7, equipped with a series of transversely-extending guide rods or elements 8, arranged .in parallel relation and spaced equidistantly. These elements serve-as line-guides, being attached at their ends in any suitable manner to the side bars of the frame 7.

In practice a sheet of paper or other writing material 9 is placed upon the platen beneath the frame 7, which latter may be swung upward on its pivot 6 for the purpose, and after positioning the paper be seated downward thereon for maintaining the sheet firmly and smoothly upon the platen. After the parts have been thus arranged and during the writing operation the writing instrument will be guided by the rods 8 to insure straight lines of writing and obviating the lines being run together, the purpose of the indicator 4 being to mark the lines as the writing progresses, this action being accomplished by seating the engaging portion or tip 5 between the pair of guides next adjacent to and above those between which the line is being written.

After a sheet has been filled or the writing is complete the finger 4 may-be turned backward from position over the platen and the frame 7 raised to permit removal of the paper.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view and one which will be of especial benefit to persons who after having learned to write become blind. It is to be understood that in attaining these ends minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A device of the class described, com prising a bed or platen, line-guides associated therewith, and a line-indicator carried by the bed or platen.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a bed or platen, line-guides associated therewith, and a line-indicator permanently and movably mounted upon the bed or platen.

3, A device of the .class described, comprising a bed or platen, line-guides associated therewith, a guide member mounted upon the bed or platen, and a line-indicator movably mounted upon the guide member.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a bed or platen, line-guides associated therewith, a guide member secured to the platen, and a line-indicator movably mounted upon the guide member, said lineindicator being provided with a turn-down engaging portion.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a bed or platen, line-guides associated therewith, and a line -indicator movably mounted upon the bed or platen, said lineindicator being provided with a turn-down engaging portion.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a bed or platen provided with flanges, a frame provided with guide elements, said frame being hingedly secured to one of the flanges of the bed or platen, and a line-indicator movably mounted upon the bed or 10 platen.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH C. DANA.

Witnesses:

G. W. ELSEY, T. J MOREY. 

